The Speaker, Taraba state House of Assembly, Dr. Joseph Albasu Kunini has congratulated His Lordship, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama on the conferral of pallium on him by his Holiness Pope Francis.
In a press statement issued in Jalingo on Saturday, Kunini said that this was a milestone not just for his immediate family and the Catholic community but the entire country at large.
He maintained that, the perculier nature of the conferment was a testament to the uniqueness of the task ahead of the clergy and prayed that God will strengthen him in dispensing his responsibilities in the new capacity.
“Today, i join other people of Goodwill to felicitate with His Lordship, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama on the auspicious occasion of the conferral of pallium on him by His Holiness Pope Francis.
“This is indeed a great thing for the entire Catholic community and the nation at large. It is however, particularly special to us from Taraba State knowing that he is our son and a worthy ambassador of the state to the global community.
The Speaker described the gesture as first of its kind which the pallium was presented in this form where the Papa Pronuncio has to do the presentation in Nigeria.
“In as much as we need his relentless prayers for peace and general good of the Church, it is equally incumbent on us to pray for him to succeed in his given responsibilities.
“We understand that this is due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. As a people, we believe this is very significant as it points to the uniqueness of the task ahead of him. We are grateful to the Pope, and pray that God will strengthen them both in carrying out their responsibilities” the statement in part.
The pallium, is a white woollen band with pendants in front and back worn over the Chasuble by a Pope or Archbishop as a symbol of Episcopal authority and is usually conferred on the Archbishop by the Pope at a ceremony usually at the Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
